Juve fined again for racist chants

22 March 2012 08:46

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Juventus have been hit with their third fine of the season for racist chanting by their fans during Tuesday's Italian Cup semi-final against AC Milan.

Italian sporting authorities handed out a 20,000-euro fine, double the penalty Juve were given in January after racist chanting directed at Udinese's Pablo Armero, of Colombia, and Cape Verde-born Swiss international Gelson Fernandes.

They were also docked 10,000-euros in October after racist chanting against Inter Milan.

Milan players Sulley Muntari of Ghana and Dutchman Urby Emanuelson were the targets of the chants on Tuesday.

This latest fine confirms the Juventus fans' sorry record when it comes to racist chanting. They regularly abused Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli -- an Italian of Ghanaian origin -- during his Inter days.

In 2008/09 Juve had to play a match behind closed doors after their fans racially abused Balotelli following a controversial incident during the team's clash with Inter.

That seemed to anger and galvanise certain sections of the Juve support who proceeded to regularly target Balotelli, even when not playing against his team.

The next season the club was punished four times, including a partial stand closure once, for fans' anti-Balotelli chants.

That season they were hit with 25,000-euro and 20,000-euro fines as well as the closure of the stand holding their 'Ultra' fans for one match, whereas this season the sanctions have been tame in comparison.